Centerstand... I'm a weakling

Yes it was unusual, Rotax engine, italian build, Beemer badges, but good fun. Until you needed parts, I had an accident, off work for 4 months, bike off the road for 5 - waiting on a fork brace from Italy!

I always think of Beemer riders as having beards!:smile:

 

I'm getting closer!

Well, I got it up on the center stand once and almost a second time!! We got outa work at noon today so I met a friend for lunch, went to the chiro the went to Cycle Gear and spent like 3 hours there. I really just went there to browse for a minute, but shortly after getting there a guy walked in, looked at me and announced "That's the smartest woman rider out there! She rides a VFR!" Well, needless to say, we had LOTS to talk about. Turns out he's a cop and works at Cycle Gear a couple nights a week "for fun". Really cool and funny guy... hmmmmm... seems like all of you guys fit that description too!! Is it the VFR that makes us all that way or do you have to be that way before you get a VFR?

Anyway... somewhere in the conversation, he volunteered that if I needed help getting it up on the centerstand he would go out to the bike with me and show me. Three hours later, he remembered (I forgot) and came out and worked with me. Two things... I was standing next to the bike with my foot pointing forward, he showed me to point my foot towards the bike, almost under the bike; he also showed me to really straighten my left arm on the handlebar and use the leverage to help me pull back with my left arm while pulling up with right arm... not really pulling with my arms at all, but because they are straight, when I straighten my leg, the arms just naturally engage. I was allowing my right arm to engage but not the left... kinda like in the one video where the guy did it with one arm. So, first time with that method, I got it up on the stand by myself. Tried it again, and just when it was about to go up, I thought it wasn't going to so stopped trying and the lost the momentum. But hey, I'm getting there. Woo-hoooooooo!!:strong:arty2:

 

So...Is this dude going to sign up here or what? That should get Joey all worked up. Then I would have someone to talk shop with, or at least reminisce about.

 

all centerstands have a kind of trick to them. the way to get a bike up on a stand is to kind of do 2 things at once. first, lower the stand down to the ground, and then balance the bike to where you can tell that both feet of the centerstand are touching the ground. as you have the bike balanced, grab both handlebars with your hands. next, with as much force as you can, push down hard with your right foot, and pull back hard on both handlebars. (if youre a smaller person, you should probably put your weight into pulling back on the handlebars). if you do this just right, the bike will kind of just roll right back onto the centerstand.

 

Unfortunately no, he's not. I talked to him about it and he said he spends NO time on the computer. I told if he joined, he be on the puter all the time but I don't think he will. Maybe if you all make a trip to Vegas and he sees what great people you all are, he'll join...

 

You know...I would like to take a few extended rides. I have never really cleared things with my wife, but have always really thought things out before I went ahead and did them so as not to damage what we have. Survived the purchase of the bike. But I think if I started taking off too much for extended trips, I would be playing a very dangerous game. So gotta pick and choose where and when I go.

Just thought of something. I will fly her down there and meet her there. I think that works.

Sheet man, I think of it all.:thumb::makeout::juggle:arty2:

Hey JasonSmith. Will that one work for you?

 

I Did It!!

Well today, I did a LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG ride with a group of people, one of the being my new friend, the VFR rider. I asked him to spend a couple minutes with me on the centerstand again. All he did was stand on the other side and give me a couple pointers and I got it up. So, when I got home, I tried it by myself, and I did it completely by myself!! I kinda HAD to 'cause I really needed to wax the chain and figured it would be best then, after the ride while the chain was hot. It took my two tries... first one, I had it but gave up too quickly. second try, had it up, no problem!!!

Thanks to all of you for your great suggestions and encouragement!! I'm proof that size does NOT matter. I'm 5'6" and about 127lbs. and I can get my VFR on the centerstand!!:bootyshake2::ncb::strong:arty2:

 

Great job VFRCHICK! Shows you got some guts and stick with it. But all you really need is one of these (also for sale)....

 

There is hope - I haven't been able to get mine on the center-stand yet. Thanks for posting the You-Tube - that should do the trick, and VFRCHICK's start up of this post. I did give it a go only the concrete was way too slick. I was also nervous as I'd dropped the bike, actually started to go over, and I was on the bike, front wheel came off the concrete driveway into the yard, and over I went, with bike tearing my right knee tendon. Shit. Only scratched the fiberglass. Room-mate was home so she helped me pick it up. I'm only 5'5 so a bit short, however just got my Sargent's seat and had them trim the foam down so it dropped me another 1" or 1-1/2"!!! Does the trick!

Now to go practice the center-stand.

Thanks!

Theresa Greene

 

Make sure it points up!

Other people have described the best way one thing to do that will help at first is make sure the bike is facing uphill.

Be warned if its too steep you will never get it off the centerstand :smile:
After you "get it up" a few times and the confidence grows you should have no problem. I put it on the centerstand mostly don't trust the sidestand plus it's difficult to fill it to the brim at the station if you don't put it on the centerstand.

All the best - have fun out there.

Jumble

 

Ah, this is one that makes perfect sense but I never really thought it through. Excellent tip...thanks!!!

 

You really must proof read your work !

 

Or get some chloroform, blindfold, helmet and some rope... :lol: